Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-11-10
FATAL FIRES AT OMAHA.
One Man and Twenty-Five Horses
burned.

OMAHA, Nov TAT II AS last night q
Nocturnal pedestrian saw flames shoot up
in the center Of plot Of ground which
has become recognizable as Squatters-
vile, owing to the fact that number Of
people haye Of late located there, habili.
tating in tents and rudely constructed
shanties The fire spread with the rapid,
ity Of cyclone. and the firemen were
summoned. Everybody in the proximity
Of the contiagration rushed from their
primitively constructed homes, and the
shrieks of frightened women, terror
stricken children, and the excitement by
the temporarily unnerved men, presented
picture of the widest CONSERVATION.
Three stage coaches were burning and the
flames were fast licking up a frame stable
from which the horses rushed wildly for
freedom from death. when the tlremen
arrived. Without delay, strong and
effective streams were at play and the
fire flend was subdued, leaving the barns
in ruins and the stage coaches charred and
wrecked When the excitement had cool.
ed down a horrible discovery was made.
The burned coaches had been used as a
temporary sleeping quarters by the men.
Five men In all occupied three coaches,
which were in line together and stood
against the barn. Four Of the five men
retired early in the evening and were
sleeping soundly when Joseph Lawn, a
laborer on the grade, came from down
town somewhat under the influence Of
liquor. Lawn was an inyeteratc smoker,
and occupied one of the coaches by him
SELF the bedding consisting of hay in the
bottom and blankets for covering. 1t
was in the coach occupied by Lawn that
the fire was discovered. and the SUPPOSE
ton Is that spark from his pipe fired
the hay and caused the oonilagrati0n that
destroyed property, cost him his lifc and
imperiled the lives of others. Soon after
the fire was put out the charred and dis
figured remains of Lawn were discovered
in the bottom Of the wagon. His limbs
were burned TO crisp. and the trunk
presented sickening sight. The liberal
bestowal of water on the coach had
checked the flames from reaching his
face, which escaped untouched. Lawn
was thirty.five years of age, and had been
in the employ of Mr.. Williams since the
18th of September last. lie Is supposed
to have come from Nebraska City.
Fire broke out In John Reesc's barn,
near the southwest corner of Blonde and
this morning. 1t spread rapidly and be.
fore the fire department could reach the
place the structure with its entire contents
consisting of twenty-five horses and as
many carriages and buggies, besides har-
ness. grain, etc. were consumed. Two men
who were sleeping in an office in the build
ing were discovered after the fire had got
far under Roadway, and barely escaped
with their lives, A small one story cot.
tage Immediately south of the barn was
also burned, with all the furniture. John
Peterson's barn, west OF the cottage. was
consumed and two horses which was in
II at the time burned to death. The flames
spreading from Mr.. Paterson's barn to
that Of w. ii. Askworth, north Of it.
This barn was also destroyed and
two horses burned TO death. A cottage
occupied by Mrs Carl Kirk stood between
the two barns and was badly damaged,
the roof and north side were burned in.
The origin Of the fire Is unknown.